A new wind turbine in Schipkau, Germany, has reached a record height of 365 metres. Developed by Gicon, the structure is designed to harness high-altitude winds to maximize electricity production.
The 365-metre tower nearly rivals Berlin's TV Tower
The wind turbine in Schipkau, Brandenburg, has officially become the world's tallest of its kind, reaching a total height of 365 metres (1,197 feet). According to the report, this makes the Gicon-built structure the second-highest building or tower in Germany, falling just three metres short of the iconic Berlin TV Tower.
To achieve this scale, Gicon utilized a specialized cable lifting system to extend the turbine's inner tower.. While the project faced some delays due to adverse wind conditions, the rotor blades have now been attached,allowing the tower to tower over the other wind turbines in the immediate vicinity.
Supplying 7,500 households with high-altitude wind
The primary objective of the Schipkau project is efficiency through elevation. By reaching higher altiutdes, the Gicon turbine can access stronger and more consistent wind currents, which the developer claims will allow it to generate twice as much energy as a conventional wind turbine.
The economic scale of the project is significant, with state funding provided via an agency for breakthrough innovations totaling between 20 and 30 million euros.. As reported, a manager indicated during a site visit that the giant turbine is expected to provide enough electricity to power 7,500 households.
Replacing open-pit mines in Brandenburg's coal heartland
The installation of this record-breaking turbine is part of a larger structural shift in Brandenburg. The Schipkau region has historically been a hub for coal mining, but Germany is currently closing vast open-pit mines to meet national climate targets.
This transition is not starting from scratch; the new giant is situated among approximately fifty other turbines at the Schipkau wind farm, a site that was originally established in 2000.. This move represents a broader European trend of converting "brownfield" energy sites—areas previously used for fossil fuel extraction—into hubs for renewable energy production.
The AfD's pushback against Schipkau's green transition
Despite the technical achievement, the project has encountered local political friction. The Alternative for Germany (AfD) party, which denies the reality of man-made climate change, has led some of the opposition to the turbine's construction in the coal-mining region.
This conflict highlights the tension between national climate mandates and local identity in regions where the economy was built on coal.. The presence of the AfD in Brandenburg suggests that the transition to renewables is as much a cultural and political battle as it is an engineering challenge.
The timeline for November operations and long-term stability
While Gicon plans to put the turbine into operation in November, several details remain unverified. Specifically, it is unclear how the specialized cable lifting system will impact the long-term structural maintenance of the inner tower compared to traditional construction methods.
Additionally, the report notes that the tower was originally scheduled to reach its full height by September 27, 2026, but encountered wind-related delays. It remains to be seen if these weather-related setbacks will further push back the operational date or affect the turbine's initial performance metrics.
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